"If we find that it gets to a level where we’re going to lose control or people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," he said.

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Trump added that he meant the "whole border," though he appeared to be referring only to the southern border.

“We’re either going to have a border or we’re not," he said, adding that Mexico wouldn't "be able to sell their cars" into the U.S.

Trump also claimed that the U.S. closed the border earlier this week, though it was unclear what he was referring to.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon deployed roughly 5,800 troops to the border at the request of Trump.

The president has claimed that a group of Central American asylum seekers traveling through Mexico and toward the U.S. border present a national security threat.

"You're dealing with a minimum of 500 serious criminals, so I'm not going to let the military be taken of advantage of," Trump said Thursday. "I have no choice. Do I want that to happen? Absolutely not. You're dealing with rough people."

Homeland Security Department officials had said in a conference call with reporters earlier this week that they had identified 500 criminals traveling in the caravan, The New York Times reported.

Trump also confirmed Thursday that he had authorized troops at the border to use force against immigrants if necessary.